Glassware takeout apparatus



Dec. 1, 1953 G. E. RowE GLASSWARE TAKEOUT APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1l 1950 Illl hum

INVENTOR GEORGE E. ROWE ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheeil 2 Dec. 1, 1953 G. E.. RowE GLASSWARE TAKEOUT APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1 1950 Dec. l, 1953 G. E. RowE 2,660,831

GLASSWARE TAKEOUT APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1. 195o 5 sheets-sheet s Z9 f 8 /5 f7 uw f 5 -qp-l INVENToR GEORGE E. ROWE BY 10W ma ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 1, 1953 GLAS SWARE TAKEOUT APPARATUS George Rowe, Wethersfield, Conn., assigner to Emhart Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Delaware Application February 1, 195o. sensi No. 141,662

10 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to glassware forming machinery and more particularly to improvements in apparatus for handling finished ware immediately following a final forming operation in a finishing mold.

Hollow glassware, such as bottles, tumblers and other types of containers generally are Vformed either in a single-.stage automatic molding machine in which glass charges are directly pressed into :finished articles, or in two-stage machines in which the charges are initially formed into parisons or blanks by either a pressing or blowing operation and the parisons subsequently reformed into finished articles within nishing blow molds. The articles may be formed successively one at a time (single gobbing); or in multiples, usually pairs (double gobbing) Generally, the finished articles must be transferred by means of takepout equipment from the finishing molds and deposited for cooling on a deadplate and thereafter transferred to .a conveyor or other means for delivering the ware to a lehr or other equipment for annealing.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide improved takeout equipment, the operation of which provides for a longer cooling time on the deadplate without increasing the length of the overall forming cycle.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from areading of f of a pair of finishing molds in combination with the lower or gripper portion ora takeout mechi anism, together with deadplate, transfer means and conveyor;

Figs. 2a. and 2b together comprise a front elevational View partly in section of the apparatus y shown in Figs. 1ct and 2.a, including the upper or operating portion as well as the lower or gripper portion of the takeout mechanism shown in Fig. la, Fig. 2b :further showing in phantom the lower or gripper portion of the takeout mechi' anism preparatory to depositing glassware on the deadplate;

Fig. 3 is a crossesectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. n2a showing details of the upper or operating portion of the takeout l.

5.-.5 of Fig. la showing an arrangement for adjustillg the gripper portion of the takeout mechanism relative to the lower end of its supporting and voperating shaft;

Fig. 6Y is a plan view of the top portion of the takeout mechanism shown in Fig. 2d;

Fig. 7 is a cross-,sectional View taken on line 'l-l of Fig. 2a; and

Fig. 8 is an end view of the takeout cylinder head taken from line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. la and 2a, there is shown a pair of blow or nish molds .generally designated l and 2, which include split mold sections la, lb, 2a and 2b and bottom plates Ic, 2c within which glass containers 3 and 4 may be molded.

The mold operating and associated glassware forming mechanism, parts of which are shown in the drawings vand vdesignated generally by the letter M. preferably may be 0f the WP@ i1- lustrated and described V.in my Copending applif cations, Serial. Nos... .103.903 Aand 143,386Y respectively `iileolJuly 9. 1949. and Feb. 1 0. 1950.. Howevery it will be vap preciated by those skilled in the art of glassware manufacture. lthat the present invention maybe vadvantageously employed with other types of fonrnirig .machines and equipment.

.A s shown in Fig. 2a, there is provided a take.- out mechanism generally designated T for transferring the glass jars 3 vand 4 from the respective bottom` plates Ic and 2c to their respective stations 5a and` 6a (Fig. 1b) on the deadplaies 5 and 6 o f a cooling mechanism generally designated C. Freferaloly as indioatedin Figs. lb and 2b, the top surfaces of the deadplates 5 and 6 lie-in a oommonhorizontal plane spaced downwardly from the horizontal Surieee deilned by the molding surfaces of the bottom plates lc, 2c with the line of centersvof ,Stations 5a and 6d disposed at right angles to the line of centers of the molds l and 2.

Disposed adjacentthe deadplates 5 and 6 is a belt Conveyor generally designated l which, as shown in Figs. lli-and 2b, has an upper surface la which lies in the same horizontal plane as the top surfaces .of the deadplates 5 and 6 and,

' as indicated by the arrow Fig. 1b, travels lOm right to left so as to carry away the jars 3 and 4 for further processing as. for example. to a lehr (not shown) for annealing.

The jars 3 and 4 may be pushed onto the belt conveyor 'l from their respective deadplate stations 5a and Ga by means of push-bar mechanism generally designated P and P. The transfer mechanisms being identical. the following description of mechanism P also serves as a description of the mechanism P', like components of which are designated by like reference numbers in the drawings. More particularly, each mechanism comprises a horizontally extending pusher rod t having an outer end Ba which is bent so as to generally conform to the curvature of the jar 3 and which is secured at its inner end within a pivot arm'S fastened to a vertical shaft I Il that is rotatably journaled in stationary bearing blocks II (Fig. 2b). Secured to the lower end of shaft Iii is a sprocket I2 which is engaged by a chain I3, one end of which is spring tensioned as at I3@ to continually -urgerthe sprocket in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. lb). The other end Itb of the chain I3 is secured to the outer end lila of a pivotedV lever I4 having a cam follower I5 which is continually pressed into engagement with a face cam I6 that is secured to a shaft Il rotated in timed relation to the operation ofrthe forming machine and the takeout .mechanism T. It will be understood that the face cam IS will be shaped so that rotation of shaft I.' will periodically oscillate the arms I4 and the pusher rods t will wipe successive jars k3 and ll that have been deposited by the takeout mechanism M on the deadplates 5 and 6, from their deadplate stations 5a, Sa, onto the conveyor l.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2a and 3 for details of the takeout mechanism M, there is shown a'housing I8 fastened as by means of bolts I9 to a rigid horizontal frame member 2D. A vertically disposed shaft 2I is supported within the upper end of the housing for limited vertical and rotary movement.V More particularly, a pinion gear 22 is concentrically disposed about the shaft 2 I and is secured, as by means oi' screws 23, to a concentric sleeve 24, which is rotatably supported at its lower end on an annular supporting portion Iilb of the housing I8. As shown in Figs.V 3 and-4, the sleeve 24 is splined to a piston .25' which may be pinned or otherwise secured tothe shaft 2i so that the shaft is permitted vertical sliding motion and, at the same time, Ymay be rotated by means of the pinion gear 22. A compression spring 25 is located within the housing I8 and about the shaft 2| and is compressed between housing shoulder Ic and the iston 25 so as to urge the latter together with the shaft 2l upward. Adjustable stop screw 21 isithreaded into the upper` end of the housing ,I8 inalignment with the shaft 2I and restrains the spring pressed shaft 2I in its upper position at which the lower or tong gripping device G carried hv the lower end of the shaft is in gripping registry with the jars 3 and c on their respective mold bottom plates Ic and 2c.

Adiustment ofthe screw 2'! may he effected by means of a chain and sprocket drive generally designated 28 and an adiusting thumb screw 29. As best seen in Fig. 2a, adiustment 28 includes like sprockets 3B and 3| pinned or otherwise respectivelysecured on the adustment screw 21 and the upper end of the thumb screw 29, the latter being threaded within a portion of the housing I8 and extending vertically downward therethrough so `that the manually grippable thumb portion 29a is readily accessible for effecting adjustment of the stop screw 21.

VThe downward movement of the shaft necessary to lower the gripper G to its lower or waredepositing position (Fig. 2b) is eiected by air pressure from the forming machine timer (not shown)` which is supplied to the confined space in the housing I8 above the piston 25 through pipe line 32 and connecting passage 33 in the housing I8.

As shown in Fig. 3, the pinion gear 22 is rotat ably supported on a bushing 22a through which the shaft ZI slidably extends and in which there is provided a vertical grooved passage 33e which connects the confined space abovethe piston with the air passageway 33. A pin 53d, or other suitable fastener, anchors the bushing against movement.

Rotation of the shaft 2| from the position shown'in Figs'. 'la and 2a at which the grippers G are in registry with the jars 3 and t and the position at which the grippers G are positioned at the Vdead plate (Fig. 2b) is effected by a rack 3d slidably supported in a guide portion 8d of the housing.

As best seen in Fig. '7, the rack. is secured to a piston 35 reciprocally mounted within a pressure cylinder portion ite of the housing IB. Operating air is supplied from the timer (not shown) to the opposite ends' of the cylinder ite through lines 36 and 3l for reciprocating the piston 35 and rack 34 and thereby rotating shaft 2| so as to swing the grippers G between their positions above their respective molds 3 and d and their dead plate stations 5 and S. The saine 1ines'36 and kil serve as exhaust lines from their respective ends of the cylinder 48e.

Preferably, as shown in'Figs. 6 and 8,'line 3f is provided with a 'quick opening one-way valve 35 permitting rapid flow ofin-put air into the cylinder and an adjustable valve screw 3e for throttling the exhaust of air "from the cylinder through the line 3l so as to cushion the travel of the piston 35 at a regulable rate. rlhe line 35 may also be provided with a similar one-way valve 38a controlled by anV adjustable throttle screw 39a. Adjustable stop screws een maybe provided in the cylinder heads for adjustably limiting both ends of travel of the piston S5 and thereby controlling the angular movement of' the shaft 2l Yand the positioning of the gripper 'C- at the blow mold and dead plate stations.v

Referring more particularly to Figs. la, 2a, 2b and 5, the gripper device G comprises a housing 40 carried at the outer end of an integral supporting arm lll which is secured by a split ring portion 42 and tightening bolts `43 (Figs. la and 5) to the lower end of the shaft 2i. As shown in Fig. 2a, the housing t0 includes a cylinder portion lili and cylinder head l5 within which a piston 46 is mounted for reciprocal move= ment. Preferably the cylinder e is provided with a liner 41 which may be easily replaced when the liner wears out without the necessity of replacing the housingvli. i

The piston 46 is pressed upwardly by a spring :i8 within the housing il() into engagement with an adjustable stop screwllwhich determines the upper position of the piston 46. Operating air from the timer (not shown) is supplied to the confined space in the cylinder ed, above the piston 46 through a passageway 5e in the. head t5 by means of a line 5I which, as shown in Fig. 5, communicates through a longitudinal groove 52 in the split ring l2 and a connecting passage 53 which extends upwardly through the shaft 2.I and is connected with line 54 (Figs. la andvZa') fromV the timer through the confined space 55 (Fig. 3) dened by the housing I8 abovey the shaft 2l.Y j

As best shown in Figs. 2a and 2b, there is secured to the lower end of the piston 56 a crosshead 56 which is connected by links 5l and 5S to ears 59 and 50 which project upwardly from a'pair of tong supporting arms 6|'v` and 62.` The latter are pivotally supported at their upper ends on a pin 63 which is journaled at its ends within bearing blocks 64 and 65 secured to the lower end of the housing 40. The lower` ends of the tong arms 6! and 62 are each provided with a pair of like spaced split rings 66 in each of which is secured a horizontally projecting stud 61 having a block 68 to which a tong gripper plate 6B is secured as by means of a bolt 10.

As will be readily seen by reference to Figs. 2a and 2b, the tong gripper plates are arranged as two spaced pairs, designated by the general reference numbers 'il and 72, for gripping the jars 3 and 4 respectively beneath the finish in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2b. It will be seen that the gripper plates 69 may be individually adjusted by axial and rotary movement of the studs 61 to spot the gripper plates in their 4proper positions relative to the ware 3 and 4 in the blow molds I and 2. Further adjustment of the tongs is provided by coextencling adjustment screws 13 and 14 which arev mounted in the tong arms 6| and 62 and cooperatively engage so as to limit the closing of the gripper plates 59 at preselected gripping positions. It will be seen that the adjustment screw 49 which limits the upward movement of the piston 46 also serves to determine the extreme open position of the gripper arms 6| and 52.

Prior to tightening the fasteners 43, the position of the housing 4|! relative to the shaft may be accurately adjusted by means of an adjustment screw 'i6 (Fig. 5) which is rotatably supported at its upper end in a projecting arm 'I1 having a split ring portion 'ila which is secured as by means of a screw fastener '|8 on the shaft 2|. The lower end of adjustment screw 15 is threaded through a bracket 'i9 fastened to the housing 4E and provided means for adjustably raising and lowering the gripper supporting arm 4| prior to tightening the split ring bolts 43.

The operation of the illustrated apparatus embodying the present invention will be generally understood from the above description of its several components. Preferably the sequence of operation is as follows:

As the blow mold sections la, Ib, 2a and 2b open and leave the jars 3 and 4 supported on their respective bottom plates |c and 2c, operating air is supplied from the timer (not shown) through line 31 to move the piston 35 to the left (Fig. '7) thereby rotating the shaft 2| and pivoting the gripper G carried by the pivot arm 4| so that the two pairs of gripper plates 1| and 'l2 are disposed on opposite sides of their respective jars 3 and 4. Thereupon operating air is supplied from the timer through the line 54 to depress the piston 45 and cause each pair of tongs 1| and l2 to grip the finish of their respective jars substantially as shown in 2a and 2b. Immediately thereafter, bottom plates |c and 2c drop and air is supplied by the timer through line 3B to force the piston 35 to the right (Fig. 7) and swing the gripped jars to positions spaced directly above their respective dead plate stations 5a and 6a and the jars still located thereon from the immediately preceding forming and transferring operation. It will be seen that the immediate removal of the jars from their bottom plates Ic and 2c makes the blow molds and 2 immediately available for forming the next pair of jars. While the jars 3 and 4 are being moved to and held in elevated position by the gripper device G above their dead plate stations 5a and 6a,

fil,

6 the vwiperior transfer arms T are aetuatedbyth'e heretofore described rotating cam I6 and the jars .ofthe preceding cycle'are wiped from the dead plate stations 5a and 6a onto the conveyor Thereafter while the jars are held suspended over the dead plate stations each cam I6 forces each wiper arm 8 back to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1b, whereupon operating air is supplied by the timer through line 32 to depress the piston 25 and the shaft 2| thereby lowering the gripper G secured to the shaft to the position illustrated in phantom in Fig. 2b. Thereafter, the timer relieves air in line 54 thereby relieving the air pressure in the cylinder 44 whereupon the spring 48 forces tong operating piston 4Bv to itsA upper or tong-opening position which releases the jars 3 and 4 and deposits them on the dead plates 5 and 6 andfinally the timer relieves the pressure in line 32 thereby removing pressure fromthe pistonk 25 and permitting spring 26 to raise the piston 25 and shaft 2| to its upper position preparatory to repeating the takeout cycle heretofore described.

The present invention has the advantage of providing substantially greater effective cooling for the Ware during a maximum portion of the complete cycle. More particularly, the operation of an apparatus embodying the invention serves to position the ware on or above their respective dead plates in the path of cooling air discharged from holes in the latter, even prior to the return of the pusher arms 8 to their inoperative positions (Fig. 1b)

Other advantages of apparatus embodying the present invention and of its operation according to the present invention will be apparent to those' skilled in the art.

While but one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be clear that modifications may be made without departure from the scope of the invention as denned in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a glassware forming machine including a pair of multi-part final blow molds and a bottom plate for each of said molds, means for gripping the formed glassware articles on the bottom plate, means for laterally transferring the gripping means and gripped glassware articles from the bottom plates to positions elevated above respective dead plate cooling stations, means operable beneath said elevated articles for removing glassware from said dead plate stations while said gripped articles are transferred from said bottom plates, and means for lowering said elevated articles and opening said gripping means to deposit said articles at said dead plate stations after said removing means have operated beneath said elevated articles to clear said stations and said removing means have returned to inoperative position, said means for effecting said lateral transference of said gripping means and gripped articles being operable independently of and prior to said lowering means, and means for holding said gripping means with the articles gripped thereby above said dead plate stations during operation of said removing means and prior to operation of said lowering means.

2. In a glassware forming machine having a pair of blow molds in side-by-side alignment and each having a bottom plate for supporting the glass article formed in the mold, a gripper for gripping the finally formed glassware articles on the bottom plates, means for laterally moving said gripper and positioning the gripped articles in alignment at rightv angles. tothe alignment of the blow molds and elevated above dead plate cooling stations, means for removing previously deposited articles from said dead plate stations while the gripped articles are being transferred laterally from the bottom plates, said gripper holding said articles suspended over said dead plate stations While said removal means return to clearing position, and means for lowering said gripped articles and opening said gripper to deposit said articles at said dead plate stations after said removing means has cleared said stations and has been returned and positioned preparatory to repeating the station clearing movement.

3. Apparatus as reci-ted in claim 2 and Wherein said gripper is adjustably carried on a vertical shaft which is mounted for slidable and rotatable movement, said laterally moving means including a racl; engaging a pinion gear secured against rotation relative to said shaft, and said means for lowering and opening said gripper including an air-operated piston secured to said shaft and a second piston for opening said gripper.

e. Apparatus as recited in claim 3 and wherein springs continually urge said pistons upward to position the gripper at its grippingelevation relative to the bottom plates and to open said gripper.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 and wherein said gripper includes a pair of commonly pivoted arms connected by links to said piston for opening and closing said gripper.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5 and including means for pivotally and laterally adjusting the positions of the gripper arms independently relative to each other.

7.' Apparatus as recited 'in claim 6 and including adjustable stop means for selectively adjusting the upper position to which the gripper supporting shaft is raised by its spring pressed piston.

8. In a glassware forming machine having a blow mold including a bottom plate, means for gripping a glassware article supported on said bottom plate, means for laterally transferring said gripping means first in a horizontal direction only and for holding the gripped article elevated above a dead plate cooling station, means for removing a like article from said dead plate station, and means operable independently of said lateral transfer means for lowering said elevated article and opening said gripping means to deposit said article after said removing means have cleared the dead plate station.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8 and wherein the lateral movement of the gripping means effects approximately 90 rotation of the gripped article about a vertical axis.

l0. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 and wherein the lateral movement of said gripping means is effected along approximately 90 of an arc of a circle.

GEORGE E. ROWE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dahms June 12, 195i 

